Inspiring

This is a wonderful documentary about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, and their inspiring run to the Gold medal. As the documentary makes clear, America was really in a bad place in the late 70s. Double digit inflation, double digit interest rates, energy shortages and long lines at the pump, all combined to create the “misery index”. Add to that the hostage crisis with Iran, the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, and President Carter’s seeming inability and weakness to deal with any of it, and you had a perfect storm against America. Simply put, people just didn’t feel proud to be an American.

Then along came a rag tag bunch of kids who, for a few weeks, ignited a patriotic fury and united our country. American flags were waved and flown with pride. Strangers hugged strangers. We were one, if only for a short time.

Amazing American sporting events will still come along, but they’ll be regional. The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team’s “miracle on ice” was a one time only, defining moment in sports.